PTL presents Pulitzer-winning drama that combines math, romance

By Don Maines, CORRESPONDENT

Published
11:03 am CST, Thursday, November 14, 2019

Chaney Moore, left, and Joanna Hubbard rehearse for Pasadena Little Theatre's production of the drama "Proof." The actresses portray sisters in the play, in which a family deals with mental illness and the nature of genius.

Chaney Moore, left, and Joanna Hubbard rehearse for Pasadena Little Theatre's production of the drama "Proof." The actresses portray sisters in the play, in which a family deals with mental illness and the

Chaney Moore, left, and Joanna Hubbard rehearse for Pasadena Little Theatre's production of the drama "Proof." The actresses portray sisters in the play, in which a family deals with mental illness and the nature of genius.

Chaney Moore, left, and Joanna Hubbard rehearse for Pasadena Little Theatre's production of the drama "Proof." The actresses portray sisters in the play, in which a family deals with mental illness and the

The smaller, “black box” stage at Pasadena Little Theatre becomes the backyard of a Chicago home when David Auburn’s “Proof,” winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for drama, is presented Nov. 15-24.

The show, which also won best play at the Tony Awards, combines the puzzle of mathematics with romance and some surprising twists, beginning with the lead character, Catherine, enjoying a lucid discussion with her father, Robert, whose mental state has been deteriorating for years.

Following Robert’s death, Catherine admits her own descent into depression and worries that she might have inherited both her father’s genius as a mathematician and his mental illness.

Catherine’s life becomes further unhinged with the arrival of her sister, Claire, who wants to sell their late father’s house and take Catherine to New York to get psychological help.

Meanwhile, Catherine begins a volatile, romantic relationship with Hal, a fellow mathematician who thinks he finds a groundbreaking proof in some of Robert’s old notebooks.

“’Proof’ is a passionate, intelligent story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius and the power of love,” said theater publicity manager Crystal Mata.

The play is directed by Zack Varela, whose previous directorial credits range from the small-cast musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” to another intimate drama, John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt,” which won both the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2005.

The cast includes two Houstonians — Joanna Hubbard as Catherine, Chaney Moore as Claire — and David Schultz of Pearland as Robert and Daniel Hicks of Richmond as Hal.

When PLT board president Gregory R. Brown announced the group’s 2019-20 season last May, he admitted, “It may not sell,” considering the difficulty of marketing a small drama about an academic who struggles with mental illness.

However, Mata has high hopes for “Proof,” after the season’s first black box show, Neil LaBute’s “Fat Pig,” sold out for the entire run and an extended weekend.

“We are hoping for the same result for this show as well,” she said.

Varela expects the show will be especially popular “with the theater community.”

Excitement over rarely seen play

“‘Proof’ doesn’t get done very often, so people get excited about being able to see it live,” he said. “There is a buzz in the theater community.”

“The themes are difficult to tackle, but it’s a really good text,” said Varela, a freelance thespian who was the technical director of the theater club at South Houston High School, where he graduated in 2003.

“That is where I got my footing in theater, my basic training,” he said.

On Broadway, Mary-Louise Parker portrayed Catherine, winning a Tony for best leading actress in a play.

When a movie version of “Proof” premiered in September 2005, its star was Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow.